KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
October 16, 2021
By Natalie Cook Clark
Catalytic converter thefts continue to be a problem in the Greater Houston area and these crimes are occurring in Katy ISD parking lots. Katy ISD Police work to investigate and educate against these thefts.
Several Katy ISD Facilities Impacted by Thefts
Several Katy ISD facilities have experienced catalytic converter thefts over the past couple of years. Last week, catalytic converters were stolen from the Katy High School parking lot.
“Katy ISD police personnel work hard to investigate such crimes,” says Laura Davis, a spokesperson for Katy ISD.
According to Davis, most of these crimes occur in a matter of minutes and often involve at least two suspects. One will lookout while the other crawls underneath the vehicle with a mechanical saw to cut out the catalytic converter.
Katy ISD Police Department offers tips to help Katy ISD and students to prevent being victimized by these thefts.
Park in well-lit areas, especially as the days become shorter and it gets darker earlier
Upgrade car alarms to activate when the vehicle is jacked up on one side
Install a skid plate or large cover to the bottom of your vehicle
If you are able, park in a garage
Etch your VIN or license plate into your converters
Bright high-temp paint (let’s police know converter has been marked)
Aftermarket products like straps or wire cages make it much more difficult for your converter to be cut off
The Houston Police Department shares a video to help residents understand this crime and how best to prevent it.
From the Houston Police Department.
What is a Catalytic Converter?
Katy residents continue to see a rise in these crimes. A catalytic converter is a device used to reduce exhaust emissions from your vehicle. They are most commonly used on internal combustion engines fueled by petrol or diesel.
They are high theft items because they are valuable to scrap metal dealers. They contain precious metals, including rhodium, platinum, and palladium that can all be sold.
Top Targeted Vehicles
Some of the top cars targeted are: Toyota Tundra, Toyota Prius, Toyota Tacoma, Ford F-250, Honda Element and CRV just to name some.
“When they are stolen the damage can be costly,” says Sgt. Tracy Hicks with Houston Police Department. He reported that damage to a Toyota Tundra cost over $10,000 to repair.
Katy ISD Police urge the public to always report any suspicious activity that is occurring on Katy ISD property. Call them at 281-237-4000.